Unbound Ch. 2 - Team Bonding
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The Ardglass marketplace was alive with energy—ripe fruit perfuming the air, vendors haggling loudly, and stalls bursting with every color imaginable.
Esther’s laugh cut through the noise as a scrappy kid darted past, likely with a few extra coins in his pockets. Her joy was contagious, tugging a smile from Jasper even as his eyes swept the crowd for trouble. Old habits die hard when you’ve spent years watching out for danger.
They wandered from stall to stall, Esther picking up herbs and bits for her healing work. Every so often, she’d stop to point out something cool—a bright flower, a gnarly root, or some weird fruit from gods-know-where. She’d lean in close to explain, her breath grazing his ear, her arm brushing his just enough to send a spark through him. Each time, his mind flicked back to that dream—the shadowy figure, the heat of the night.
At a spice stall, the air was thick with rich, exotic scents. Esther was in her element, practically bouncing as she described what each spice could do, her fingers delicately pinching samples.
“Try this,” she said, offering a pinch of deep red powder. Jasper popped it in his mouth, and fire erupted on his tongue. His eyes watered, and he coughed, much to Esther’s delight.
“Oops, forgot to mention,” she teased, eyes sparkling. “It’s a little hot.”
Jasper choked, fumbling for his water skin as the burn lingered. Through his watering eyes, he caught Esther watching him, a look in her gaze he couldn’t pin down—same as when she’d whispered about “love” in the soup that morning.
They moved on, but that look stuck with him, nagging at his thoughts. He was so caught up in it that he didn’t notice a small rock sticking up from the path. His boot snagged, and with a grunt, he lurched forward, arms flailing.
“Esther!” he yelped, but it was too late. He crashed into her, and they both went down in a heap on the dusty street. For a dizzy second, Jasper found himself sprawled on top of her, their bodies tangled, faces inches apart.
“Jasper!” Esther gasped, her blue eyes wide. They froze, her breath warm against his cheek, her heartbeat thumping in time with his. The closeness sent a flush creeping up his neck.
“S-sorry, Esther,” he stammered, scrambling to his feet and offering a hand. She took it, dusting herself off with a soft laugh.
“No harm done,” she said, but the glint in her eyes said she found it more entertaining than she let on.
Their tumble had drawn eyes. The market’s hustle paused as onlookers gawked, some smirking. Jasper’s face burned under the attention, but Esther didn’t miss a beat. She adjusted her cloak, flashed the crowd a sunny smile, and strolled on like nothing happened.
“Think we’ve given them enough of a show,” she said, leading the way. “Let’s wrap up our shopping, yeah?”
Jasper sat alone by the campfire, its flames casting restless shadows across the clearing. The only sounds were the occasional chirp of a night critter and the soft crackle of burning wood.
Footsteps broke the quiet, and Esther stepped into the firelight, her face glowing warmly. “Jasper,” she said, her voice gentle but hesitant, “I’ve been thinking about the treasure from the dungeon.”
Jasper shifted, giving her his full attention. “Yeah? What about it?”
“I’m worried about Oman, Zarah, and Nia,” she confessed, her tone saintly, as if choosing her words to avoid causing offense. “They’re… not always wise with coin, bless their hearts.”
Jasper chuckled. “That’s putting it mildly.”
Esther’s lips curved into a small smile, but her eyes stayed serious. “I fear giving them their full shares now might be unwise. They could spend it all in one go, leaving us no safety net for emergencies or future needs.”
Jasper rolled a gold coin between his fingers, mulling her words. She wasn’t wrong. Oman and Zarah loved their ale and dice games, and Nia couldn’t resist shiny trinkets or fancy clothes. But something about Esther’s suggestion nagged at him—maybe it was the way her voice seemed a touch too careful, like she was hiding a sharper motive. Still, her logic held up.
“You’re right,” he said after a moment. “But we can’t just hoard it all. That’d be unfair.”
Her eyes met his, the firelight glinting in their depths. “Of course not, dear Jasper. Perhaps we could… steward it for them? Dole out a little at a time?”
Jasper nodded, seeing the sense in it. “Yeah, give ‘em a few coins each, say we got lucky and found ‘em. Should keep ‘em happy for a bit.”
Esther’s smile widened, relief softening her features. “I’m so glad you agree.”
Jasper returned her smile, comforted by her familiar kindness, though a faint unease lingered. Despite the odd moments and strange feelings swirling around him, Esther’s steady presence was an anchor.
As the last sliver of sunlight sank below the horizon, raucous laughter echoed through the trees. Zarah, Oman, and Nia stumbled into camp, faces flushed and spirits sky-high.
Zarah, the towering barbarian with dark red hair cascading over her rugged leather armor, waved a half-empty ale bottle. Her muscular frame, capable of felling ten foes single-handedly, swayed as her red eyes gleamed with a drunken grin. “Jasper! Esther!” she slurred, her usual fierceness replaced by sloppy cheer.
Oman trailed her, his lanky, pale form almost ghostly in the firelight. His stark white hair fell messily over his silver eyes… His petite frame, draped in a dark blue robe, wobbled as he tried to look sober, but his red-rimmed eyes betrayed him. “You should’ve come with us,” he mumbled, words tripping over themselves.
Nia, the lithe rogue with black hair and sharp green eyes, giggled uncontrollably, her arm looped through Oman’s. Shorter than Jasper but matching Oman’s height, her slight curves and small breasts were hugged by skintight green rogue’s gear. “We had so much fun!” she chirped, her youthful energy barely dimmed by the booze.
Esther and Jasper exchanged a quick glance before he stood, holding out a few gold coins to each. “We didn’t just sit around while you were off carousing,” he said, a smirk in his voice. “Got lucky, found these while you were gone.”
Their eyes lit up at the gold, drunken glee giving way to surprise, then delight. They snatched their shares, the alcohol’s haze briefly forgotten as they marveled at the coins.
Jasper snapped awake, a familiar heat coursing through him. Soft moans and the rustle of tent fabric filled the air, stirring him fully. His heart thumped as he focused on the source—a shadowy figure kneeling between his thighs, lit only by faint moonlight.
Her head moved with a steady rhythm, each motion sending jolts of pleasure through him. His cock throbbed in her warm, tight grip, pushing him to the edge. But it was her eyes that locked him in place—glowing violet, piercing the dark, pulling him into their depths.
His mind spun, lust drowning out reason. He couldn’t think, only feel, his body giving in to the raw intensity. As he neared climax, those purple eyes held his gaze. Then, abruptly, she stopped, her lips pulling away, a thin strand of saliva and precum glinting between them. She giggled, teasing, having edged him. Her hand glowed faint blue, and before he could react, his vision blurred, and he passed out.
When Jasper woke, the tent was sealed shut, no sign of her.
-
Jasper found Oman alone, hunched over a worn book that looked like it held the world’s secrets. His silver hair caught the firelight, shimmering like moonlight, giving him that otherworldly vibe he always carried. Jasper cleared his throat, feeling a bit awkward about interrupting. Oman’s pale blue eyes flicked up, curious but calm, inviting him to spill whatever was eating at him.
“Hey, Oman,” Jasper started, his voice catching with nerves. “I… need your advice.”
Oman closed the book with a smooth motion, setting it aside, his full attention on Jasper. “What’s on your mind?” His voice was steady, almost soothing, like he could talk you down from a cliff.
Jasper took a breath and dove in, telling him about the dreams—the shadowy figure, the glowing purple eyes that wouldn’t leave his head. He watched Oman’s face, hoping for some kind of answer in his expression, but the wizard stayed unreadable, just listening.
“Sounds like a succubus, maybe?” Oman said, his tone as neutral as ever, like they were discussing the weather instead of something freaky.
“But they don’t hit the same person twice, right?” Jasper asked, leaning forward.
“Usually not,” Oman agreed. He stood, moving to his pack with that quiet grace of his, and pulled out a small pouch. From it, he took a piece of parchment, a quill, and a vial of ink. He started chanting under his breath, the words soft but heavy with power. His fingers moved fast, sketching strange symbols across the parchment, each stroke deliberate, like he was weaving a spell right there.
The air around them hummed, charged with something Jasper couldn’t name. Oman finished the incantation and studied the parchment, his eyes narrowing. After a long moment, he let out a small sigh, his shoulders relaxing.
“No succubus,” he said, looking up at Jasper, his voice still even. “Seems like you’re just having… vivid dreams, Jasper. It happens sometimes.”
So, basically, Jasper was just some lovesick fool chasing fantasies in his sleep. Great.
“Yeah, okay,” he mumbled, his face burning. “Thanks, Oman.”
Oman gave a small nod and went back to his book, the pages pulling him in like nothing had happened. Jasper shuffled off, feeling like an idiot, those purple eyes still haunting him.
-
The smell of sizzling bacon and frying eggs hit Jasper like a warm hug as Esther called out, “Breakfast’s ready, folks!” His stomach growled, and after Oman’s talk about his dreams just being dreams, he felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted.
Nia plopped down first, her black hair a mess and her green eyes narrowed in a sulky glare. “Ugh, you two were so damn loud last night,” she snapped, tossing a pointed look at Oman and Zarah. “Couldn’t sleep a wink with all that racket.”
Jasper blinked, a flush creeping up his neck. He’d been out cold, dead to the world, and hadn’t heard a thing. How’d he sleep through that? He shook his head, trying to focus on the food instead of his embarrassment.
Zarah just laughed, her muscular frame shaking. “Oh, Nia, don’t be such a pouty brat. You’re just mad you’re not getting any,” she teased, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
Oman’s pale face went beet red, clashing with his silver hair. He mumbled something under his breath, eyes glued to his plate. Jasper caught Esther blushing too, her gaze flicking to him before darting away, which only made his stomach twist in a weird way.
Nia scoffed, crossing her arms. “Pfft, as if! While you lot are getting all sweaty and gross, I’m stuck listening to it like some lonely loser. Keep it up, and I’ll kick all your sorry butts, I swear.” Her voice was all sass, but a smirk tugged at her lips.
The table went quiet for a second before everyone cracked up, the tension melting away. Even Nia couldn’t hold her grumpy act, her laugh mixing with the rest as they dug into Esther’s breakfast.
The morning rolled on with more teasing and easy chatter. Despite the weird dreams and awkward moments, the group’s bond felt solid, like family. These were the moments Jasper held onto, the ones that made the chaos worth it.
“Any quests today, Jasper?” Oman’s calm voice cut through the laughter, catching him off guard.
“Uh, haven’t checked,” Jasper admitted, rubbing his neck. “Been a bit… distracted.”
“Well, guess we’ll need to find something!” Zarah said, practically bouncing with energy. “To the Guild!”
They headed to the Ardglass Guild under the morning sun, the town buzzing around them. But when they got there, the quest board was nearly empty—just a few low-tier jobs not worth their time. Jasper sighed, turning to the group with a sheepish grin.
“No quests today,” he said. “But we’ve got plenty of coin. How about some gear shopping?”
Oman nodded, thoughtful. “We could use upgrades.”
Zarah’s eyes lit up at the mention of new weapons, and Nia’s fingers twitched like she was already holding a shiny new blade.
They split up, each drawn to their own kind of shop. Oman wandered into a trinket store, picking up a staff with a glowing crystal tip. He tested its balance, waving it gently, then haggled with the vendor like it was second nature.
Zarah was at the armorer’s, trying on a pair of sturdy leather boots. She stomped around, grinning, clearly pleased with how tough they felt, before handing over some coin.
Nia was in her element at the weapons stall, running her fingers over a pair of curved daggers, their black blades barely visible in the light. The vendor said they were perfect for stealth, and Nia’s smirk said she agreed.
Jasper poked around a general supply store, grabbing potions and map supplies. But as he glanced around, he noticed someone was missing.
“Where’s Esther?” he asked, turning to the others. They looked around, suddenly realizing their healer was gone.
Just then, Esther strolled back, looking content. “Sorry,” she said, waving off their worry. “Saw something I wanted to grab.”
Jasper’s curiosity piqued, but she didn’t elaborate, and he let it go.
-
Twilight settled over the camp, painting the sky purple as we trudged back, arms full of new gear and grins on our faces. Esther got to work on supper, the smell of stew and flatbread soon drifting through the air.
“Adding that special ingredient again, Esther?” Jasper teased, nudging at their earlier banter.
Esther’s smile turned sly, a glint in her eye that felt like it hid something. “Everyone deserves some love tonight, why, sad you can’t just have it all to yourself?”
Oman barely glanced up from his book. “Long as it’s not poison, I don’t mind.”
Zarah’s laugh boomed across the camp. “Oh, come on, Oman! Smell that! It’s damn near heavenly.”
Nia slung an arm around Jasper’s shoulders. “You’re just lucky you’re not the one cooking, Oman. We’d be eating charred paper.”
The group’s laughter filled the clearing, but Jasper caught Esther stealing quick, guarded looks at Nia. It was subtle, like a shift in the air only he noticed. He tucked the observation away, another puzzle to unravel.
As night deepened, the stew bubbled in the pot, and the flatbread came off the fire crisp and golden. They gathered around, digging into the meal. Each bite was rich, bursting with flavor and that “love” Esther had promised, warming them from the inside out.
-
Jasper jolted awake, sweat slicking his skin, the night’s heat sinking deep into his bones. A restless ache pulsed through him, undeniable, urgent. His cock throbbed, hard and unyielding, and it demanded release.
The mystery woman from his dreams haunted his mind as his hand drifted down, fingers slick with pre-cum. Loneliness gnawed at him, a sharp craving for her touch. He stroked himself, breaths ragged in the still night, chasing relief.
Then, sounds broke the silence—moans and the rhythmic slap of skin from nearby tents. Zarah and Oman, their low groans stoking the fire in Jasper’s gut. But it was Nia’s voice, soft and sultry from the tent next to his, that hit him hardest.
His hand moved faster, breath catching. Picturing what Nia might be doing based on her moans, he came with a muffled grunt, the release intense but his cock stayed hard, hungry for more.
Drawn by raw desire, Jasper crept to Nia’s tent. The cloth tent’s entrance was draped slightly open, just enough for him to peek through. Inside, Nia was lost in her own world, one hand circling her clit, the other teasing a nipple to a stiff peak. The sight was electric, searing itself into his brain, and his hand found his cock again, stroking in time with her movements.
Her moans filled the air, a wicked melody pushing him to the edge. He shuddered, climaxing again, his cum splattering against Nia’s tent flap.
Guilt crashed over him like a cold wave, dousing the heat. He’d crossed a line. Heart pounding, he slipped back to his tent, closing it shut, the night’s mix of thrill and shame churning in his chest.
